Simply Magic

He supposed he ought not to interfere further. He had half bullied Susa

He ought not to interfere. None of this was any of his business.

He interfered nevertheless.

“I was telling Miss Osbourne a short while ago, ma’am,” he said into a momentary lull in the conversation, “about the letters discovered inside a ledger in Mr. Osbourne’s desk after his death.”

Three pairs of eyes turned upon him in something that looked like reproach. Then Susa

“Yes,” Lady Markham said. “There were two, one addressed to Markham and one to Susa

“What did he say?” Susa

“I believe he did,” Lady Markham said while Edith set down her plate. “It was addressed to Lord Markham, you must understand, Susa

“But you did see the letter?” Susa

“Yes,” Lady Markham admitted, “I believe I did.”

“What did it say?” Susa

Something struck Peter suddenly and he got to his feet.

“Perhaps,” he said, “you would all prefer it if I were not here since this has nothing whatsoever to do with me, has it? Shall I leave the room? May I wait for Miss Osbourne-”

But Lady Markham had raised one staying hand and he sat again.

“No,” she said, her voice sounding weary. “There is no need to go. There was something in your father’s past, Susa

It all seemed a little thin and evasive to Peter. I believe I did. That is all I remember. Would not every word of a suicide note be seared on the brain of anyone who had read it-especially when the man had lived and worked and shot himself in one’s own home?

“And my letter?” Susa

“To my knowledge it was not opened,” Lady Markham said.

“Was it destroyed?” Susa

“I do not know.” Lady Markham blinked rapidly. “I ca

“Perhaps Theo knows, Mama,” Edith suggested. “Oh, surely it is still in existence.”

“It is probably as well if it is not,” Susa

“Susa

“No,” Susa

Edith folded her hands at her waist. She looked hurt.

“I shall write to you,” she said. “I daresay you will be able to find a few spare minutes in which to read a letter.”

“Thank you.” Susa

“This has been a pleasure,” Lady Markham said. “You will never know, Susa

“I will, ma’am,” he said, bowing.

But it seemed to him as they stepped out onto the street a few minutes later that the visit had not settled a great deal. Perhaps it did not have to, though. Susa

And at least the visit had given pleasure to Lady Markham and Edith and had perhaps persuaded Susa

“Are you glad you came?” he asked, drawing her arm through his.

She turned her head to look at him briefly.

“Yes,” she said. “I would have been afraid to set foot beyond the school doors for fear of ru

“Even though you never could be?” He chuckled.

“But I was not asked to be, was I?” She laughed too.

It was good to hear her laugh again.

And so the end had come. She might have been celebrating her betrothal now. Instead she was about to say good-bye.

By her own choice.

Susa

But she could not think of any of that now.

Her heart was heavy. She felt that with every step she took she trod on it, increasing her pain.

Yet at the begi

But, oh, at the moment it was very hard to think such sensible thoughts. In an hour’s time she would think them, perhaps. Tonight she would think them, and next week, and next month. But now…

“I shall be making an early start for London in the morning,” he said as they turned onto Sutton Street and the school came into sight.

“Yes,” she said. “There ca

“I have spent a pleasant few days here, though,” he said.

“I am glad.”

They spoke to each other like cheerful, polite strangers.

“It has been good to see you again,” he said.

“Yes.”

“Perhaps,” he said, “we will meet again sometime.”

“Yes, that would be pleasant.”